Sunderland’s new boss is raring to go

Ross Gregory

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce says he’s “raring to go” after being convinced to return to Wearside by Ellis Short’s ambition.

The 60-year-old has agreed to a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light and replaces Dick Advocaat, who quit last weekend.

Allardyce has a big job on his hands, with Sunderland second-bottom of the Premier League without a win all season.

Allardyce has been out of football since leaving West Ham in May, and was initially planning on having an extended break from football.

But he says he jumped at the chance to rejoin the club for a third spell after discussions with owner Short.

He said: “I have enjoyed my break from football and now I’m raring to get back.

“I met with Ellis and we spoke at length about the club and his ambitions and I knew I wanted to be part of that. I hope to be able to help to bring the stability and success that everyone wants.”

Allardyce has a big job on his hands, with Sunderland second-bottom of the Premier League without a win all season.

But he believes the experience he’s had in successfully keeping Bolton and West Ham in the Premier League will stand him in good stead.

And having played for Sunderland in the 1980s, before returning in 1996 to take charge of the youth set-up under Peter Reid, he is well placed to turn their fortunes around.

“Of course it’s a challenging job, but it’s something I have experience of in the past,” he added.

“I’m looking forward to working with the players and of course I will be relying on the help of the Sunderland supporters, whose tremendous passion I have experienced first-hand. I can’t wait to get started.”

Allardyce’s first game in charge will be the trip to West Brom on Saturday, before he faces his former club Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light on October 25.

The 60-year-old is the first person to manage both Newcastle and Sunderland.

Allardyce is fifth in the all-time record for Premier League games managed, having taken charge of 400 top flight games with four different clubs. During this time he has claimed six Manager of the Month awards.